Metal-plate-treating apparatus



SePt- 17, 1963 E. H. GREENBERG ETAL 3,103,767

METAL-PLATE-TREATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 6, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 www /a ma Sept. 17, 1963 E. H. GREENBERG ETAL 3,103,767

METAL-PLATE-TREATING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 6, 1960 BY fw/a. Vm'

Sept- 17, 1953 E. H. GREENBERG ETAL 3,103,767

METAL-PLATE-TREATING APPARATUS Filed sept. e, 19Go 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 '7 Il?? fly-,

I INVENTORS.

B VM/1. ma

Sept. 17, 1:9563 E. H. GREENBERG ETAL 3,103,767

METAL-PLATE-TREATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 6, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TORS.

MaJ/dfn@ ATTmA/Y United States Patent O 3,103,767 METAL-PLATE-TREATING APPARATUS Elmer H. Greenberg, 2500 Belmont Ave., Philadelphia, Pa., and William B. Greenberg, 1510 Brinton Park Drive, Wynnewood, Pa. Filed Sept. 6, 1960, Ser. No. 54,167 Claims. (Cl. 51-14) This invention relates generally to the surface treatment of plates, and is a continuation-in-part of our copending patent application Serial No. 828,141, filed July 2.0, 1959, issued as Patent No. 3,065,150, dated September 25, 1962..

While the apparatus of the present invention has been primarily developed and employed in the scale removal of heavy metal plates, and will be illustrated and described hereinafter with particular reference thereto, the novel advantages of the instant invention may be welladapted for many other applications, all of which are intended to be comprehended herein. As is known to those versed in the art of treating heavy steel plates, say in the removal of scale from rolled plates, this is best accomplished by forcibly impinging loose abrasive against the plate. However, considerable ditiiculties are experienced in handling such steel plates during treatment, conveying the loose abrasive, and in the economical collection of the abrasive material to prevent the formation of dust in the surrounding atmosphere.

Accordingly, it is one object of the present invention to provide a novel apparatus for use in treating the faces of relatively heavy plates, which is extremely simple in construction and operation, lending itself to substantially complete automation, and which achieves substantial economies in required floor space, operating-cycle time, labor, initial cost and maintenance, as well as supplies and materials.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a unique plate-treating apparatus having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph which is adapted to abrade plate surfaces to produce a consistently fine finish, wherein the quantity 0f material removed is accurately controlled, and wherein the abrasive or plateatreating material may, to a large extent, be reused to effectively reduce the required quantities of abrasive material.

It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of the type described which is especially well-suited for treating relatively wide plates to abrade the surfaces thereof and obviate the need for highY suction or blowing to remove the abrasive.

The present invention further contemplates novel relation motion between the apparatus and plate being treated to substantially reduce and minimize the required number of operating heads or abrading units to minimize down time of the apparatus and eifect high economies in both initial investment and maintenance, the latter being extremely important in abrading apparatus.

It is a more particular object of the present invention to abrade steel plate by confining a stream of abrasive to a relatively small area and include traversing action of the stream relative to the plate, for miniminizing the requared apparatus and substantially reducing wear on parts of the apparatus. For example, conveying rollers are out of the path of the confined abrasive and therefore subject to much less wear.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, and combinations and arrangements of elements which will be exempliiied in the following de- Cice 2 scription, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a partial transverse elevational View of apparatus constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, taken substantially along the line 1 1 of FIGURE 2, and partly broken away for clarity of understanding;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal, sectional elevational view of the apparatus of FIGURE 1, taken substantially along the line 2--2 thereof, also with parts broken away for clarity;

FIGURE 3 is a partial horizontal section taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic representation of the preferred forms of FIGURES 1 3;

FIGURES 5-8 are diagrammatic representations of several plate-treating patterns adapted to be employed in practice of the instant invention;

FIGURES 9-ll are diagrammatic illustrations of differerent embodiments of the present invention;

FIGURE l2 is a top view showing a slightly modiiied embodiment of guide-roller mechanism for use in the instant apparatus;

FIGURE 13 is a front elevational view of the guide mechanism of FIGURE l2; and

FIGURE 14 is a sectional elevational View taken substantially along the line 14--14 of FIGURE 13.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIGURES l-3 thereof, a frame is generally designated 20, within which is located suitable conveyor means 21 for handling an article to be treated. On opposite sides of the frame 20, see FIGURE l, are provided treating assemblies 22 for applying treating material to a workpiece 2.3 carried by the handling means or conveyor Z1. Means for collecting the treating material after application thereof to the workpiece 23 is generally designated 2,4. The treating heads or assemblies 22 are movable vertically in the embodiment of FIGURES 1-3, being carried by carriages or trolleys 25; and, the collection means Z4 may be a telescopic tubular conduit, as illustrated, or other suitable extensile and retractile conduit means, such as collapsible rubber hose, for extension and retraction upon vertical movement of the treating assemblies 22.

More particularly, it may be observed in FIGURE 1 that the frame Ztl is symmetrical about the conveyor 21 land the workpiece or plate 23 carried in upstanding relation on the conveyor. As noted, there are provided a pair of treating or material-applying assemblies 22 on opposite sides of the plate 23 for treating both facesV thereof. Each treating assembly 22 has associated therei with, on the same side of the plate 23, means for handling the treating material, such handling means being generally designated 26. The material-handling means Z6 is only partially shown on the left side of the frame 20 in FIGURE l, being `a substantial duplicate of the materialhandling means shown on the left side of the freine. Thus, the apparatus -fo-r treating each side of the workpiece or plate 23 is substantially identical, so that la detailed'description of only one of the duplicated elements will rsuice. Of course, it Inlay be desired to eliminate certain of such duplicated elements, when possi-ble, say by ia single handling apparatus or Imeans 26 for operative association with both treating assemblies 22.

The frame 20 includes Ia plurality of parallel spaced, crosswise base members 30, which may 'be embedded in or otherwise xedly secured to an appropriate ground or other supporting surface. On each `s-ide of the conveyor 21, extending generally upward :from a plurality of adjacent base members 30, `are a plurality of upriglits 3l, 32 and 33. The uprights 31, 32 land 33, on each side of the conveyor 21, are in lalignment with each other respectively of the conveyor, while each pair of identically numbered uprights 3l, 32 and 33 on opposite sides of the conveyor are in alignment with each other transversely of the conveyor. i

Extending across the upper ends of the uprights 31, 32 and 33 on each side of the conveyor 21 is a top frame member or lintel 34. The lintels 34 on opposite sides of the conveyor 21 may be connected together by transverse members or beams 29; and, a generally horizontal mounting plate 35 may rest on the members 29 and 34,`bridg ing the space between the latter members.

Additional uprights 36 may be fixed iat their lower ends to additional base members 3G, on both sides of the conveyor 21. All of the frame members 29, 30, 31, 32, 34 and 35 may be formed of structural I beams, or other suitable construction, if desired. The frame members, as well vas the mounting plate 35, may all be ixedly secured to each other in the above-described arrangement, as by Welding or other suitable fastening means.

The conveyor means 21 includes a pair of longitudinally extending, laterally spaced, generally horizontal support members 4t) ixedly secured by any suitable mems between the uprights 31, 32, 33 and 36. At longitudinally spaced locations along the support members or beams 40, there are provided pairs of upstanding journal pedestals 41, each pair of journal pedestals carrying therebetween a rotatable roller 42. Thus, la plurality of rollers 42 are arranged in longitudinally spaced relation between the uprights of the frame 20, each roller being journaled for rotation about a horizontally disposed axis extending transversely of the conveyor means. Suitable drive means in the form of sprocket-and-chain connections 43 may positively connect the several rollers 42 to each other `and to ya variable-speed transmission 44 for `simultaneous rotation of the rollers. The variable-speed transmission 44 may be connected through Iany transmission means 45 to `a suitable drive means or motor 46. Thus, the motor effects simultaneous motion and equal angular velocity of all the rollers 42for conveyance thereby of the workpiece or plate 23 resting on edge on at least two -of the conveyor rollers. Extending longitudinally between the uprights of frame Ztl, in the lower region therebetween, is an elongate, upwardly facing trough or channel 27. The channel is supported at spaced locations by generally upright angle members or struts 28 extending upward from the beams 40, as seen in FIGURE 2. The bottom wall of the channel or trough 27 is provided with -a plurality of longitudinally spaced generally rectangular through openings 37, each located to receive the upper portion of a respective roller 42, while the side walls of the channel 27 extend upward beyond the rollers 42. This channel or trough 27 serves to more eiectively guide a plate 23 `being conveyed by the rollers 42, las when the plate is relatively short and might tend to tur-n.

In order to maintain the workpiece or plate 23 in its upright condition while resting on and being conveyed by the rollers 42, the uprights 36 may each be provided with one or more rollers 49 on their inner or =facing sides for rolling engagement with a workpiece being conveyed therebetween. In addition, the relatively tall uprights 31, 32 and 33 are preferably each provided on their inner sides with a plurality of guide rollers 50 to accurately locate the workpiece 23 in its upright condition between the relatively tall vframe members. If desired, the guide rollers 49 and 50 maybe mounted for vertical adjustment on their respective uprights, `and lateral `adjustment toward and away from each other for accommodating plates of different dimensions. Also, the Work-carrying rollers 42 may be provided with frictional peripheral surfaces, such as by serrations or other means, for more positive conveying engagement with the supported article or plate.

Adjacent to and outward of each upright 32 is fixed a generally vertically `extending track or rail 55, which may have its lower and upper ends welded or otherwise fixed to a base member 30 and an upper transverse member 29. The rails or tracks 55 may lie in the same vertical plane extending transversely of the conveyor 2l, and may have their vertical longitudinal edges `generally V- shaped in cross section. One of the carriages 25 is mounted on each of the vertical tracks 55 for up-anddown movement therealong, the carriages each including a body 56, and a plurality of vertically disposed V- `grooved wheels 57 in rolling engagement with the track edges.

The mounting plate 35 on top members 29 and 34 is substantially directly above the vertical tracks S5 and carriages 25. On the upper surface of the plate 35 are mounted a pair `of upstanding, laterally spaced journal bearings 5S which journal a transversely extending shaft 59. The shaft is connected through a transmission 60, also mounted on the plate 35, :and a belt 61, or other suitable power-transmission means, to Aa motor or variable-speed drive elements 62, also mounted on the plate 35. Thus, the motor 62, through the transmission means 6G and 61, effects axial rotation of the shaft 59; and, the motor may be adapted for rotation in opposite directions for effecting opposite rotation of the shaft 59.

A pair of drums or winches 63 are carried on opposite ends of the shaft 59, each winch having coiled thcrcabout a cable 64 which depends tow-ard and has its lower end connected to the carriage 25 on the adjacent side of the frame structure. Thus, the motor 62 serves to raise and lower the carriages 25. j

Mounted on each of the carriages 25, for vertical movement therewith, is a respective one of the treating assemblies 22. Each of the assemblies 22 includes a motor 70 xed to the body 56 of its adjacent carriage 25, and a housing 71 also xed to the adjacent carriage body and containing a centrifugal impeller or bladed wheel of any suitable kind, such as at 72 in FIGURE 3. Suitable power-transmission means 73 is connected between the motor 70 and impeller 72 for rotating the latter. As shown in FIGURES 1-3, the impeller housing 71 on both sides of the plate 23 may be rgenerally horizontal and decline slightly toward each other. Thus, the impellers 72, each being conformably received in its respective housing 71, rare rotatable about generally vertical axes which incline slightly toward each other. Thus, although the impellers 72 in their housings 71, are located directly opposite from each other, by reason of their slight oblique declination toward each other, their discharge streams are out of alignment as shown in elevation in FIGURE l. However, as the impellers 72 preferably rotate in opposite directions, the abrasion patterns on opposite faces of the plate may be congruent and in registry with each other.

Carried by each impeller housing is `an enclosure or hood 75 extending toward and opening to the adjacent face of the plate 23. 'The hoods or enclosures 75 each serves to receive and confine a stream of material passing from its adjacent impeller 72 to the plate. The streams of treating material are shown in FIGURE l at 76. lt may there be observed that the streams 76 irnpinge upon opposite, substantially registering face portions of the plate 23, and` that the streams are out of alignment with each other.

The housings or enclosures 75 extend generally horizontally in the embodiments of FIGURES 1-3, as the impellers are disposed generally horizontally and produce generally horizontally extended streams 76. The lower region of each hood or enclosure 75 may be generally lfunnel-shaped for receiving and constricting the treating material after its application to the plate.

The :collection conduit 24 depends from the underside `of the enclosure 75 for gravitationally collecting and conducting away the used treating material. The collection conduits 24 are illustrated as being of telescopicaly extensile and retractile tubular assemblies, but may be of other extensile and retractile construction, such as flexible bellows. The lower end of cach collection conduit 24 enters .into a receiving boot or conduit 79 which communicates lwith the material-handling means 26.

More specifically, each material-handling system 26 may include elevator means 80 extending from its lower end in com-munication with the boot 79 upward beyond the 'trame 20 for elevating the used treating material received from the enclosure 75. The elevator means 80 may be of any suitable construction, such as the illustrated vertically disposed bucket conveyor 81 enclosed ina housing 82. `Of course, other suitable elevator means may also be employed.

From its upper end region, the elevator means 80 dischar-ges into a housing 85 through a passageway `86 extending obliquely downward. The passageway 8'6 is provided with a tbottorn plate or tray S7 extending obliquely upward slightly into the housing 82 to catch substantially all of the treating material 'discharged from the elevator S1 at its upper elevation, Iand extending obliquely downward considerably into the housing 85 for discharging a stream `of abrasive Iat a desired location therein.

In a side wall of the housing 85, helow the discharge level of tray 87, is provided an outlet opening 88, which is connected through la conduit 89 to a cyclone separator 90. Also lin a side wall of the housing `85, Ibelow the level of the opening 88, is an opening 91 connected to a discharge conduit 92. A tray or plate 93 may extend obliquely upward and inward from the opening 91 to facilitate passage through the latter opening of the desired material, -as will appear presently. An inlet conduit 94 is connected to the housing 85 at a level below that of the opening 91 for discharging fresh material into the lower region of the housing.

Depending from the lower region of the housing 85 is a Ifeed conduit 95, which may include a telescopically extensile and retractile portion 96 depending into communication with the impeller housing 71. Thus, the lower region of housing `85 communicates with the interior of impeller housing 71 .for 'feeding treating material to the impeller 72. A valve or -gate 96 may :be provided in the lfeed line 95 for controlling the movement therethrough of treating material. While the lower region 96 of the lfeed conduit 95 is illustrated as ibeing of tubular telescopic construction, it is understood that any extensile and retractile conduit construction may be employed, such -as rubber hose.

The cyclone separator 90 is provided with a lower-end dischange conduit 100 having a one-way yor flap valve 101 for removing iines, yand an upper-end .discharge conduit 102 for conveying away dust. In the conduit 102 may he a blower or fan 103 for conveying the dust to Ia baghouse 104. The :dust is collected by the baghouse for safe removal through conduit 105 having a one-way or liap valve 106. Fresh :airis discharged from the baghcuse through a stack 107, in which may be located another fan or blower 108. If desired, one of the fans 103 and 108 may be omitted.

In operation, the plate 23 is placed in upright or vertical condition on the rollers y42 of the conveyor 21, and intermittently moved by the conveyor longitudinally therealong. The plate is supported in its upright condition by vthe gui-de rollers 49 `and 50. With the plate 23 in position Ibetween the treating assemblies 22 on opposite sides of the plate, thetreating assemblies are simultaneously moved vertically, Vsay downward, while the plate remains stationary, -to treat ya vertical strip or area on each side of the plate. At the lowermost position of movement of the treating assemblies 22, the conveyor 21 effects movement of the plate horizontally therealong an lincrement slightly less than the horizontal width of the treated strip or area while the assemblies 22 remain stationary. The assemblies 22 then move simultaneously vertically upward to treatan additional contiguous, and

preferably slightly overlapping strip or area of the plate while the latter remains stationary, the vertical speed of lassemblies 22 being adjustable =by the drive 62. When the Vassemblies 22 reach the upper edge of the plate 23, their vertical movement ceases :and the plate is again shifted horizontally by the conveyor 21 a distance slightly less than the horizontal width of :a treated strip. This procedure continues until the plate is completely treated, and may be entirely automatic in operation by the provision of suitable controls.

In practice, the treating material, such as shown at 110 in the bottom of the elevator housing 82, may be any suitable form of particulate material, such `as sand or shot adapted to remove scale from a plate or sheet. The particulate treating material is directed `against the faces of the plate 23 by the streams 76, and Vatter impingement upon the plate collects and falls gravitationally through the depending conduit 24 and boot 79 to the lower region of elevator housing 82. It is then elevated for discharge through the incl-ined passageway 86 into the chamber 85. The heavier particulate material may be reused, while the lighter material, including that broken up during the operation and the removed scale are preferably separated from the heavier material. Thus, the lightest particulate material, including fines and dust, are withdrawn from the chamber or housing through the opening 88 and conduit 89 for separation as fines and dust lin the separator 90 and baghouse '104, respectively. Slightly heavier, but not reusable particulate material falls on the tray 93 for removal and collection through the passageway 91 and conduit 92, while heavier reusable, particulate material falls to the bottom of housing S5 for admixture with newly introduced, make-up material entering through the conduit 94. This latter mixture of p-articulate material passes gravitationally downward thorugh the feed conduit 95 and its telescopically extensile and retractile lower region 96 to the impeller housing "71 for discharge by the impeller '72. The rate of feeding of such material may be controlled by the gate or valve 96.

The embodiment of FIGURES 1-3 is illustrated diagrammatical-ly in FIGURE 4to` facilitate understanding of subsequent diagrammatically illustrated embodiments. Thus, FIGURE 4 illustrates a roller or belt-type conveyor means 21 and the upstanding plate 23 carried 4by the conveyor means for horizontal movement therealong. The `arrow 112 indicates that the conveyor means 21 is operable inV opposite directions for moving the plate 23 back and forth, or in either desired direction. 'Ihe treating lassembly 22 is connected to the collection means 24, and a double-headed, generally vertical arrow 113 is associated with the treating assembly -to indicate vertical up-anddown movement of the latter. The -feed-conduit means 95 is shown depending to the treating assembly 22, and the material-handling apparatus 26 is shown connected to the lower end of collection conduit 2 4 and the upper end of feeding conduit 95 for recirculating the treating material.

In practicing the instant invention by employing the apparatus in the manner described hereinbefore, a plurality of relatively wide, generally vertical strips or stripes of treated regions are provided on the plate. Such configuration is diagrammatically illustrated in FIGURE 5, wherein the plate 23 is shown las, having a plurality `of generally vertical, relatively wide stripes produced by vertical movement of the treating assembly 22 with the impeller 72 substantially horizontal and the plate remaining stationary during Vertical movement ofthe treating assembly. y

By the instant invention, the heretofore-described apparatus may be operated to elect horizontal back-andforth movement of the plate 23 during operation of the treating head 22 and with the latter remaining stationary, except for intermittent vertical movement. A pattern produced by such `operation is shown in FIGURE 6,

wherein a plate '23 is provided with a plurality of generalj ly horizontal-treated regions or strips 116 of relatively narrow vertical dimension or width. Thus, the pattern shown in FIGURE 6 may be formed with the impeller 72 in its illustrated generally horizontal disposition, rotating about a generally vertical axis to produce a horizontally elongate stream, and by intermittent vertical movement of the impeller in :alternate relation with horizontal back-and-forth movement of the plate.

In FIGURE 7 is shown a plate 23 having a treatment pattern produced by intermittent horizontal plate movement in alternate relation with vertical movement of the treating assembly, but with the impeller disposed generally vertically for rotation about a generally horizontal axis. In this manner of practicing the instant invention, a plurality of generally vertical stripes 117 will be formed on the plate 23 of FIGURE 7, which stripes are relatively narrow, corresponding to the lesser dimension of the impeller stream.

With the impeller disposed generally vertically for rotation about -a generally horizontal axis, as in FIGURE 7, the pattern of FIGURE 8 may be produced by the modus operandi of FIGURE 6. That is, the plate 23 in FIG- URE 8 may be provided with a plural-ity of generally horizontal, relatively wide strips or stripes 118 upon back-and-forth movement of the plate and intermittent vertical movement of the treating assembly, with the impeller in a generally vertical disposition for rotation about a generally horizontal axis.

Each of the treatment patterns of FIGURES -8 may also be produced by each of the additional embodiments of FIGURES 9, l0 and 1l, it being only necessary to arrange the impeller as required, and employ the necessary sequential movements of plate and impeller assembly.

In FIGURE 9 is shown an embodiment including Ia roller or belt-conveyor means 21a for supporting an opstanding plate 23a and moving the latter horizontally, as in the preferred embodiment. The treating assembly 22a is mounted for vertical movement and connected to the upper and lower ends, respectively, of extensile and retractile collection vmeans 24a and feed means 95a. The double-headed arrows 112:1 and 113m, respectively associated with Athe plate 23a and treating assembly 22a, indicate that the plate may move horizontally in either direction and that the treating assembly may reciprocate vertically in Iany of the moods described hereinbefore. In this embodiment, the treating-material handling apparatus has been omitted. A downwardly opening oneway valve or flap 120 may be provided on the lower end of the collection conduit 24a `for discharging relatively heavy and reusable treating material in the direction of the arrow 121, while a branch conduit 122 may extend laterally from the collection 4conduit for pneumatically conducting away relatively particulate material, in the direction of the arrow 123. A hopper 124 may be arranged above and communicating with the upper end of the feed conduit 95a for directing the treating mater-ral into the latter.

In the embodiment of FIGURE l0 are shown plateconveyor means 21b of the type described hereinbefore and carrying an upstanding plate 23h. The treating assembly 22b may include a separator i126 connected between the treating head and depending collection conduit 24b. 'I'he separator 126 may be of any desired construction, such as a trap, cyclone, or other, and may rnclude a lateral discharge tube 127. The separator 126 operates upon the collected treating material after its application to the plate 23b to pass the reusable, relatively heavy panticulate material gravitationally downward through the collection conduit 24h, say for discharge into a receiver 128, and reused, as desired. Relatively tine particulate material may be discharged through the conduit 127, in the direction of arrow 129. A feed hopper 12411 to the upper end of a feed conduit 95b which depends for connection at its lower end to the treating assembly 22h. This interposition of separator 126 bctween the treating assembly 221; and collection conduit 24h enables separation of the used treating material to be more accurately controlled. Relative movement of the plate 23b and treating assembly 22b is the same as in the embodiments of FIGURES 4 and 9, as indicated by the arrows 112!) and 113b.

In the embodiment of FIGURE ll, conveyor means 21e is of the overhead or suspension type and may include an overhead rail or track 131 supporting one or more crane carriages or hoists 132 for movement along the track. The plate 23C is arranged vertically and suspended from the cranes 132, as by cables -133 and clamps or other suitable securing means (not shown). Of course, the plate 23e may be suspended by other appropriate means, such as a frame or the like carrying the plate. A fixed treating assembly is designated 22e, and is associated with iixed collection means 24C. A separator 126e may be interposed between the treating assembly 22e and collection means 24e, which separator may include a lateral discharge 127C for relatively light particulate material, in the same manner as in the embodiment of FIGURE l0. Suitable means for handling the treating material may include a receiver 128e for receiving relatively heavy particulate material from the collection conduit 24C, and a feed hopper 124e for passing treating material .to fthe treating assembly 22e. Also, it' desired, suitable apparatus may be provided for returning reusable treating material to the treating assembly. In this embodiment, the plate 23e is movable both horizontally and vertically, as indicated by the double-headed arrows 134 and 135, respectively, Further, the plate 23e may be selectively moved in fulllength strokes horizontally with alternate vertical increments, or in full-length strokes vertically with alternate horizontal increments, or combinations thereof, as desircd. Also, the impeller of treating assemblyZZc may be arranged horizontally for rotation about a generally vertical axis, or generally vertically for rotation about a generally horizontal axis, as desired.

As noted hereinlbefore, the guide rollers 50 may be mounted for adjustment on their respective uprights to accommodate plates of different widths and heights, to maintain a great variety of plate sizes in proper upstanding position. One such construction is generally designated 56d, as shown in FIGURES l2-l4, The adjust able guide-roller mechanisms 56d may be mounted on the frame uprights 36d extending over the conveyor for properly positioning and guiding a plate both during its entry onto the conveyor and its movement along the conveyor. t

Each guide mechanism 50a' may include a channellike l base member 15d having a vertically extending bottom wall or web 151 and a pair of lvertically extending side walls 152 on opposite sides of the bottom wall. The base member 156 is fixed to the upright 36d by any suitable means, such as welds 153; and, the bottom wall has its inner surface 154 inclining obliquely upward and outward. A plurality of through holes 155 are formed in the bottom wall 151 of the base member, extending through the latter and opening outward through the standard 36d. The through holes 155 are of vertically elongate configuration, as seen in FIGURE 13.

A carrier member 157 is mounted in the vertically extending, channellike base member in engagement with the oblique base-member surface 154. The carrier member includes a pair .of spaced, generally vertically extending angle pieces each located inward of and adjacent to a respective side wall 152 of the base member 150. A pair of vertically spaced, generally horizontally disposed plate-like bearing members 159 extend between and are rigidly secured-to the angle pieces i158, as by welds 164B. Thus, the angle pieces 158 and bearing members 159 combine to define a rigid, unitary carrier 157. The carrier 157 is shiftable along and in facing engagement with the oblique surface 154 and is provided with a plurality of threaded lugs or studs `161 extending spacedly through and outward beyond the holes 155 Where they are provided with clamping nuts 162. Thus, the carrier member 157 is adjustable along the oblique surface 154 and adapted to be securely clamped in any selected position of its adjustment. Of course, this adjustment of the carrier member serves to move the latter both vertically and horizontally, transversely of the conveyor.

A roller proper 165 is interposed between the vertical- 1y spaced bearing members 159, and an axle or shaft 166 extends vertically between the bearing members, being secured at its opposite ends to )the bearing members as by nuts 167, to mount the roller 165 for rotation about a generally vertical axis. It will be observed, as in FIGURES 12 and 14, that the periphery of the roller 165 ex-tends slightly beyond the edges of the bearing members or plates 159, so that the periphery of the roller is rollably engageable with an upstanding plate supported on and moving along the conveyor.

The bearing members or plates 1159' may be provided with generally triangular or Wedge-shaped extensions tapering outward from opposite sides of .the plates 159 longitudinally of the conveyor. The extensions 170 are provided with generally horizontal obliquely disposed edges or surfaces 171 which serve to deflect the leading edge of a plate being conveyed into more tangential engagement with the roller 165. Thus, the extensions 170 and their o'blique surfaces :171 define horizontally disposed deflectors for engagement with a platte being operated upon and moving horizontally along the supporting conveyor.

Upstanding from the upper surface of the upper bearing member or plate 159 is a generally triangular deector plate 173. The deflector plate 173 may be welded or otherwise fixed to the upper bearing plate 159, as at 174, and may be cut away, as at 175 to accommodate the upper nut 167 and upper end of shaft 166. The deiiector plate 173 is formed with a downwardly and obliquely extending edge or surface 176 for deflecting engagement with a plate being lowered onto' the conveyor to guide the latter inward and present damaging engagement of the plate with the guide mechanism 50d. As the vertically disposed deflector 173 moves transversely of the conveyor toward and away from the upright 36d, an upper auxiliary deiiector or vertically disposed plate 178 is fixed, as by welding 179 to the upright frame member 36d. 'Ilhe upper deector plate 178 may also be of generally triangular or wedge-shaped configuration having a downwardly and inwardly obliquely disposed edge or surface 180. The upper deflector 178 extends horizontally from the upright frame member 36d to a position at least partially overlapping the deflector 173 in all positions of the latter, to insure that a workpiece or plate being lowered into position on the conveyor will be deflected inward of the roller mechanism 50d by engagement with one or both of the oblique surfaces 180 and 176.

It will now be understood that apparatus of the present invention is extremely simple and highly eicient, to effect substantial savings in operating time and costs, as well as capital expenditure. VIt is also now understood that the present invention fully accomplishes its intended objects and is well-adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture, maintenance and use.

Although the present invention has been described in 10 some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Metal-plate-treating apparatus comprising conveyor means for supporting an upstanding plate by its lower edge and moving the plate edgewise generally horizontally, centrifugal impeller means for forcibly discharging plate-treating material laterally against a face of a supported plate, collection means for gravitationally receiving plate-treating material rebounded from said supported plate, and motion means` mounting said impeller means for movement vertically for cooperation with said support means in scanning a face of said plate, means mounting said impeller means for movement vertically for cooperation with said support means in scanning a face of said plate.

"2. Metal-plate-treating apparatus comprising support means for supporting a plate in upstanding relation, a centrifugal-impeller assembly on each side of said support means for directing a stream of plate-treating material against each face of said plate, enclosure means enclosing the streams of plate-treating material and receiving the material applied to the plate, -collection conduit means depending from the enclosure means for gravitationally collecting the applied material, and means for effecting relative movement between said impeller assemblies and said plate so as to scan the plate faces.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, in combination with a feed conduit depending to each of said impeller assemblies, and elevator means between said collection means and feed conduits for returning at least some of said plate-treating material to said feed conduits.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, said impeller assemblies being arranged to direct streams out of alignment with each other.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2, said support means comprising a nether support for supporting engagement with the lower edge of an upstanding plate,

-6. Apparatus according to claim 5, in combination with elevated guide means for guiding engagement with a face of said supported plate.

7. Apparatus according to claim 2, said support means comprising nether rollers for supporting engagement with the lower edge of said supported plate.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, in combination with elevated guide means for guiding engagement with a face of said supported plate.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, said elevated guide means comprising rollers.

10. Apparatus according to claim 2, in combination with elevated guide rollers for guiding engagement with a face of said supported plate.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,131,776 Wean et al. Oct. 4,r 1938 12,132,311 Minich Oct. 4, 1938 2,263,321 Unger Nov. 18, 1941 2,482,034 Stevens Sept. 13, 1949 2,739,424 Fritze Mar. 27, 1956 2,778,164 Lasater et al I an. 2'2, 1957 2,858,653 Guptill Nov. 4, 1958 2,869,291 Clay Jan. 20, f1959 2,993,309 Barnes et al. 1 July 25, 1961 

1. METAL-PLATE-TREATING APPARATUS COMPRISING CONVEYOR MEANS FOR SUPPORTING AN UPSTANDING PLATE BY ITS LOWER EDGE AND MOVING THE PLATE EDGEWISE GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY, CENTRIFUGAL IMPELLER MEANS FOR FORCIBLY DISCHARGING PLATE-TREATING MATERIAL LATERALLY AGAINST A FACE OF A SUPPORTED PLATE, COLLECTION MEANS FOR GRAVITATIONALLY RECEIVING PLATE-TREATING MATERIAL REBOUNDED FROM SAID SUPPORTED PLATE, AND MOTION MEANS MOUNTING SAID IMPELLER MEANS FOR MOVEMENT VERTICALLY FOR COOPERATION WITH SAID SUPPORT MEANS IN SCANNING A FACE OF SAID PLATE, MEANS MOUNTING SAID IMPELLER MEANS FOR MOVEMENT VERTICALLY FOR COOPERATION WITH SAID SUPPORT MEANS IN SCANNING A FACE OF SAID PLATE. 